Dangerous Dogs - 9th March 2010

Defra public consultation on dangerous dogs - submissions information here

Defra News Release:

Plans to toughen existing laws to protect the public from dangerous dogs were unveiled today by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn and Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

The move comes in the wake of rising public concern that some irresponsible owners may be using dogs to intimidate communities or as weapons by gangs. 

In addition, the current Dangerous Dogs Act does not cover attacks on private property where a dog is permitted to be, leaving traumatised and vulnerable victims to seek recourse through the civil courts.

The RSPCA saw a 12-fold increase in complaints about dog fights between 2004 and 2008 and in the last year, the police seized 900 dangerous dogs in London alone.

The aim of the consultation launched today is to review and streamline current legislation to better protect the public; help enforcers tackle those who abuse the law; and stop the abuse suffered by dogs that end up in the wrong hands.

The consultation, which will be announced in a major speech on crime and anti-social behaviour by the Home Secretary today (Tuesday 9 March), looks at:

• Extending dangerous dogs laws to cover all places including private property;
• Giving police and councils more powers to tackle the problem of dangerous dogs by the introduction of Dog Control Notices;
• Considering removing exemption rules that allow some people to keep banned types of dogs or if exemptions are to remain ensuring that the system works more effectively;
• Introduction of compulsory microchipping for dogs so that dog owners can be more easily traced; and
• Introduction of compulsory third party insurance so that victims of dog attacks are financially recompensed.

Hilary Benn said:
“There is a lot of public concern about dog attacks, including the recent tragic deaths of young children, and about the rise in the number of so-called ‘status dogs’ used to intimidate or threaten people.

“This is a serious matter of public safety. The Government wants to hear what people think about the law as it stands and what more we might do to protect people from dangerous dogs, while supporting the vast majority of responsible dog owners.”

Alan Johnson said:
“Britain is a nation of animal lovers, but people have a fundamental right to feel safe on the streets and in their homes. The vast majority of dog owners are responsible, but there is no doubt that some people breed and keep dogs for the sole purpose of intimidating others, in a sense using dogs as a weapon. It is this sort of behaviour that we will not tolerate; it is this sort of behaviour that we are determined to stop.”

The speech will stress the proposals on tackling dangerous dogs are part of government’s commitment to tackling not tolerating anti-social behaviour by giving local authorities the powers they need to tackle the problem.

The Home Office is also giving an extra £20,000 to the Association of Police Officers (ACPO) this year to help police forces train dedicated dog legislation officers and better equip the police to deal with dangerous dogs. This matches the funding Defra gave ACPO last year.

Under current legislation, four types of dog are banned and it is illegal to breed or keep one of these breeds unless a court places it on the Exempted Dog Index which requires the animal to be neutered, tattooed, micro chipped, muzzled and on a lead in public.

Much of the legislation surrounding dangerous dogs in England and Wales falls under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which provides for a number of criminal offences where dogs are either specified dangerous breeds or deemed to be dangerously out of control. 

While this legislation is an essential tool in tackling anti-social behaviour, the Government wants to look at it again to ensure it is working as it should and enables the police, local authorities and the RSPCA to take swift action to protect the public and stop abuse.

Extending the current Dangerous Dogs legislation to cover private property where a dog is permitted to be will also help protect people such as postal workers, telecoms engineers, and others whose work often takes them onto private land.

For more information go to:

www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/dangerous-dogs/index.htm 

Please Visit Our Dangerous Dogs Act Section Here